Meridian Bioscience said it has been awarded $2.5 million by the National Institute of Health (NIH) to support development of the company's molecular viral diagnostic testing panel, Revogene,
The NIH previously awarded $5.5 million to Meridian to support research, development, and increased production of this testing panel.
The funding was provided as part of the RADx Tech program that NIH launched to speed innovation in the development, commercialization, and implementation of technologies for COVID-19 testing.
The Revogene respiratory panel will simultaneously detect SARS-CoV-2, respiratory synovial virus (RSV), and influenza A/B infections. The expanded NIH investment not only offsets the cost of development but also enables Meridian to enhance its PIE device manufacturing line to increase throughput and improve labor efficiency to meet the expected demand for this viral respiratory panel, the company said.
Tony Serafini-Lamanna, Executive Vice President Diagnostics at Meridian Bioscience, said, "As COVID-19 moves from a pandemic to an endemic public health concern, our customers are requesting highly accurate respiratory testing panels to help speed and differentiate diagnosis so patients can get the best treatment and on the road to wellness.”